No More Hershey Kisses!

The SHAC SQUAD had a special message for the entire BA community this past Wednesday. Before they collected donations from a Jean Tag Day, they educated everyone on the devastating unjust practices in the chocolate industry, especially Hershey Chocolate. Lend an ear and listen to what they have to say:

The money raised will go to SIA projects such as Human Trafficking and scholarship money for families in need.

Vitamins for Haiti

We joined our dear friends at Morris Catholic High School to help the young children in Haiti this past week. The recent outbreak of cholera had left our little brothers and sisters with severe vitamin deficiencies.

Our SHAC SQAUD, Students Helping All Children, went immediately into action uniting their hearts with the hearts of the French Club to begin a vitamin raising campaign. HUH! Gummi bear vitamins, Flinstone vitamins, and even one-a-day vitamins filled 3 large grocery bags.

Our BA Mission as a Service Leadership School is as simple as A B C:

Awareness
Brainstorm
Call to Action

A few years ago, Morris Catholic High School joined us in our efforts to fight Human Trafficking. This year, our Students In Action Leadership Team reached out to Morris Catholic High School, Del Barton, Good Shepherd Academy, Kean University, St. Catherine of Bologna, and Neumann University to join us in several projects. They all said "yes". Together, we are making a difference in our world for the better. What a privilege and a grace to "Do Something Beautiful for God" (Mother Theresa)!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Last Wednesday, Mr. Kenneth Jennings spoke to the High School Principals at the Newark Archdiocesan meeting. He shared the amazing things that were happening at our school as a result of the Jefferson Awards Student In Action program. Whether it was our students efforts to raise awareness against Human Trafficking and their upcoming trip to the United Nations to meet with their Human Trafficking experts, or the recent CPR training workshop for students and staff to save a potential life, he attributed much of their work to the Students In Action Youth Initiative program to promote and recognize volunteer service. At the end of his brief talk, Mr. Jennings distributed materials on the various programs and invited them to become a Jefferson Awards Student In Action school.

Following in his footsteps, Mrs. Anderson, our Development Director, spoke to our Benedictine familes at the BAPA meeting Thursday evening. She echoed his enthusiasm and belief that being a Jefferson Award Student In Action School has provided the inspiration and support necessary to further engage our students in a multitude of volunteer service opportunities. It is our hope and our dream that everyone of our faculty and families becomes a spokesperson on the importance of serving our brothers and sisters in need.

As Ms. Karen Hatcher, our Regional Director of Jefferson Award SIA said, "Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve... You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

UPCOMING SCHEDULED EVENTS

Greetings. We have so many exciting events scheduled for next month that we thought we would give you a sneak preview:

1. March 8: The SHAC SQUAD (Students Helping All Children) are heading to the UN to meet with the Office of Drug and Crime regarding their efforts to stop Human Trafficking.

http://njtoday.net/.../students-work-to-raise-awareness-of-human-trafficking/

1. March 16: The next Student In Action award winners will be recognized. This month we will be awarding an amazing group team (H.UH.!) and an outstanding member of our local community.
2. March 16: A busy day as the SHAC SQUAD heads for Good Shepherd Academy in the afternoon to share with the 6,7,8 graders their current projects and the importance of helping others.
3. March 30: Ms. Karen Hatcher, our Regional Director of SIA, will be giving a short presentation on Jefferson Awards Student In Action Program to all the High School Campus Ministers in the Newark Archdiocese. This is in follow-up to Mr. Ken Jennings recent presentation to all the High School Principals in the diocese.
4. April 1,2,3: Four Student In Action Leadership members shall be heading to the Leadership Conference in Cinc.. Thank you Jefferson Award Student In Action for this exciting opportunity.
5. April 5: Regional Competition for Jefferson Award Student In Action Award.
6. April 8: Speaking engagement at Pro-Life Rally at Seton Hall University to over 800 high school students regarding Jefferson Award Students In Action Program and the importance of volunteer service leadership.

Works of Mercy

The Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless sent out another call for our BA Students to care for the young children as their parent(s) attended an evening gathering for the adults. It was a fun-filled night as they shared stories and played games with the "little ones".

Twanda commented, "All the kids were so respectful and polite. I would love to do it again. I am learning so much by going and most importantly, I learned alot about giving back!"

It reminds us of the following prayer of St. Francis,
who was known as a person of peace:

"O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive...
... that we are born to Eternal Life."
Amen.

In The Blink of an Eye

"In the blink of an eye, your life can change", reflects Chisom. Lives are at stake and Senior Student In Action Leader, Chisom, is determined to take action in strengthening schools' responses to cardiac arrest. Contacting Newark Beth Israel Hospital, she arranged for their team to come to Benedictine Academy this Thursday to undergo a workshop for certification in CPR, AED & First Aid to all interested staff and students.

"Diegan's bill calls for CPR training for students and staff, as well as the development of an emergency action plan in schools to respond to cardiac arrest and other similar crisis. The Assembly has already approved the bill and we are waiting for the Senate to follow suit. " We urge everyone to write to their Senator to help get this critical bill passed for the safety of both our children and staff.

We do not need to wait till it becomes a law before we do something. Together we can take action to save lives NOW, "one beat at a time.

God works in mysterious ways! Did you ever hear of the phrase, "If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed will go to the mountain"? Imagine the Lord using the Internet so that we could meet our new sisters at Anthony of Padua High School in Delaware. Today our Students In Action Leadership Team "Skyped" with our the Students In Action Team in Delaware.

We shared ideas for making our world a better place. They will be joining us in our efforts to stop bullying in the local communities and raise awareness for Human Trafficking. Together, we can quadruple our efforts in protecting the human dignity of our brothers and sisters. We are looking forward to meeting them in person at the Leadership Conference in Cincinnati next month. Benedictine Academy earned an all expense paid trip from Jefferson Awards Youth Initiative for four students who are performing extraordinary service leadership. Great things are happening at Benedictine Academy because our students are amazing.